Drug preparing system and drug preparing device

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a drug preparing system and a drug preparing device both capable of simplifying management of prescription data. A drug preparing system includes: a host computer that creates one piece of prescription data regarding a plurality of patients belong to a same group; a computer that obtains the prescription data created by the host computer and that creates drug preparation data based on the prescription data; and a packaging machine that prepares a drug based on the drug preparation data created by the computer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a drug preparing system and a drugpreparing device.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional drug preparing device is disclosed in, for example,Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-232113 (Patent Document 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Document

PTD 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 61-232113

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the drug preparing device of Patent Document 1, prescription data isinput for each patient. In this case, time and effort are required toinput the prescription data. To address this, data in a host computer isutilized. The drug preparing device obtains the prescription data fromthe host computer. Because the prescription data obtained from the hostcomputer is for each patient, management of prescription data becomescomplicated when the number of patients is large, disadvantageously.Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the foregoingproblem, and has an object to provide a drug preparing system and a drugpreparing device both capable of simplifying management of prescriptiondata.

Solution to Problem

A drug preparing system according to one aspect of the present inventionincludes: a host computer that creates one piece of prescription dataregarding a plurality of patients belonging to a same group; a computerthat obtains the prescription data created by the host computer and thatcreates drug preparation data based on the prescription data; and a drugpreparing machine that prepares a drug based on the drug preparationdata created by the computer.

In the drug preparing system thus configured, the prescription dataregarding the plurality of patients belonging to the same group ishandled as one piece of prescription data, thereby simplifyingmanagement of prescription data.

A drug preparing device according to another aspect of the presentinvention includes: a computer that obtains, from a host computer, onepiece of prescription data regarding a plurality of patients belongingto a same group and that creates drug preparation data based on theprescription data; and a drug preparing machine that prepares a drugbased on the drug preparation data created by the computer.

In the drug preparing device thus configured, the prescription dataregarding the plurality of patients belonging to the same group ishandled as one piece of prescription data, thereby simplifyingmanagement of prescription data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a drug preparing system having a drugpackaging device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of apackaging machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a tray attached to the packaging machine shownin FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regardingpreparation of prescription data in a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding obtainmentof the prescription data in a computer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding creationof packaging data in the computer.

FIG. 7 illustrates the packaging data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding creationof manual preparation instruction data in the computer.

FIG. 9 shows contents of a manual preparation instruction.

FIG. 10 illustrates a result of packaging.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes embodiments of the present invention withreference to figures. It should be noted that in the below-mentionedembodiments, the same or corresponding portions are given the samereference characters and are not described repeatedly. In addition, theembodiments can be combined with each other.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a drug preparing system having a drugpackaging device according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 1, drug preparing system 1 includes a hostcomputer 10, and a drug packaging device 11 serving as a drugpreparation device.

Host computer 10 creates, as one file, prescription data regarding aplurality of patients belonging to the same group. In other words, basedon the group as a unit, host computer 10 collectively creates theprescription data regarding the plurality of patients as one piece ofprescription data. In this way, the prescription data regarding theplurality of patients belonging to the same group is handled as onepiece of prescription data, thereby simplifying management ofprescription data. The group may be made based on a hospital ward as aunit, or based on a medical department as a unit. The group may be setbased on an appropriate unit.

The prescription data includes: group data regarding the group; patientdata regarding the patients; dosing time data regarding dosing time;drug data regarding a drug. The group data is associated with aplurality of pieces of patient data. Each piece of patient data isassociated with one or a plurality of pieces of dosing time data. Eachpiece of dosing time data is associated with one or a plurality ofpieces of drug data.

Drug packaging device 11 includes: a computer 20 connected to hostcomputer 10; a packaging machine 100 connected to computer 20 andpackaging a drug based on packaging data sent from computer 20; and aprinter 30 connected to computer 20 and printing a manual preparationinstruction based on manual preparation instruction data sent fromcomputer 20. Packaging machine 100 serves as drug packaging means.Printer 30 serves as manual preparation instruction data output means.

From host computer 10, computer 20 obtains, as one file, prescriptiondata regarding a plurality of patients belonging to the same group. Ascompared with a case where pieces of prescription data regardingpatients are sequentially obtained, a communication process can besimplified. Based on the prescription data obtained from host computer10, computer 20 creates packaging data, which is drug preparation data,and creates manual preparation instruction data. Thus, computer 20serves as packaging data creating means, and also serves as manualpreparation instruction data creating means.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of thepackaging machine. Referring to FIG. 2, packaging machine 100, which isa drug preparing machine, includes a cassette drug supplying unit 101and a manually prepared drug supplying unit 102, and is configured topackage drugs supplied from cassette drug supplying unit 101 andmanually prepared drug supplying unit 102. Cassette drug supplying unit101 has a plurality of cassettes 111 having drugs contained therein, andselectively supplies the drugs contained in cassettes 111. Cassettes 111are vertically arranged in multiple stages. Manually prepared drugsupplying unit 102 has a tray 141 having a plurality of compartments 141a formed therein, and sequentially supplies drugs contained incompartments 141 a. Manually prepared drug supplying unit 102 is used tosupply drugs that cannot be supplied from cassette drug supplying unit101.

Provided below cassette drug supplying unit 101 and manually prepareddrug supplying unit 102 are: a package paper roll supporting unit 156supporting a package paper roll formed by rolling package paper; asealing unit 154 forming a series of package bags by performing heatsealing while sending the package paper withdrawn from the package paperroll supported by package paper roll supporting unit 156; a hopper 149disposed upstream of sealing unit 154 and introducing drugs, which aresupplied from cassette drug supplying unit 101 and manually prepareddrug supplying unit 102, to the package paper; a cutting unit 152disposed downstream of sealing unit 154 and cutting the package paper;and a transporting unit 153 disposed downstream of cutting unit 152 andtransporting the package paper.

A printing unit 150 is provided upstream of hopper 149 so as to printinformation regarding a drug onto the package paper. Printing unit 150prints the information regarding the drug onto the package paper beforethe heat sealing of the package paper by sealing unit 154 such that theinformation regarding the drug contained in the package bag formed bysealing unit 154 is clearly indicated on the package bag. Theinformation regarding the drug includes: the name of the patient, thedosing time, the name of the drug, the quantity thereof, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tray attached to the packaging machineshown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, in tray 141 of the manuallyprepared drug supplying unit, the plurality of compartments 141 a areformed in the form of a lattice. Each compartment 141 a is given acompartment number. Drugs are manually contained in compartments 141 a.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regardingpreparation of prescription data in the host computer. Host computer 10is provided with a database. The database has a prescription informationtable and an exclusive information table. In the prescriptioninformation table, prescription data and a prescription dataidentification number are stored in association with each other. In theexclusive information table, the prescription data identification numberis stored.

When prescription data is input, prescription data regarding a pluralityof patients belonging to the same group is created as one file, thusstarting an operation of preparing the prescription data. When theoperation of preparing the prescription data is started, in a step S11,the prescription data and the prescription data identification numberare registered in the prescription information table in association witheach other. Next, in a step S12, the same prescription dataidentification number as the prescription data identification numberregistered in step S11 is registered in the exclusive information table.In this way, the operation of preparing the prescription data is ended.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding obtainmentof the prescription data in the computer. When the operation ofobtaining the prescription data is started, in a step S21, it isdetermined whether or not the prescription data identification numberhas been registered in the exclusive information table of the databaseof host computer 10. Until the prescription data identification numberis registered in the exclusive information table, the determination instep S21 is repeated. When the prescription data identification numberis registered in the exclusive information table, the process proceedsto a step S22.

In step S22, the prescription data identification number is obtainedfrom the exclusive information table, and then the prescription dataassociated with the same prescription data identification number as thisprescription data identification number is obtained from theprescription information table. Next, in a step S23, the prescriptiondata obtained in step S22 and the prescription data identificationnumber associated with this prescription data are deleted from theprescription information table. Next, in a step S24, the sameprescription data identification number as the prescription dataidentification number deleted in step S23 is deleted from the exclusiveinformation table. In this way, the operation of obtaining theprescription data is ended.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding creationof the packaging data in the computer. When the prescription dataregarding the plurality of patients belonging to the same group isobtained from host computer 10, the operation of creating the packagingdata is started. When the operation of creating the packaging data isstarted, in a step S31, the obtained prescription data is analyzed.Next, in a step S32, based on the result of analysis, the packaging datais created. In doing so, one piece of packaging data is created for theprescription data regarding the plurality of patients belonging to thesame group. Next, in a step S33, the packaging data created in step S32is sent to packaging machine 100, and thereafter, the operation ofcreating the packaging data is ended.

FIG. 7 illustrates the packaging data. The packaging data is anaggregate of pieces of data each for one package. Each piece of data forone package includes: data regarding supply of drug; data regardingcutting; data regarding packaging speed; and data regarding packagesize.

The data regarding supply of drug is data for supplying drugs fromcassette drug supplying unit 101 and manually prepared drug supplyingunit 102. The data regarding supply of drug designates supply of a drugfrom one of cassette drug supplying unit 101 and manually prepared drugsupplying unit 102. In the case where the drug is supplied from cassettedrug supplying unit 101, the data regarding supply of drug designatescassette 111 from which the drug is to be supplied, and designates aquantity of the drug to be supplied from cassette 111.

The data regarding cutting indicates whether to cut the package paper bycutting unit 152. For the final package, the data regarding cutting isset to perform cutting. For packages other than the final package, thedata regarding cutting is set not to perform cutting. For the packagesother than the final package, the data regarding cutting may be setappropriately to perform cutting.

The data regarding packaging speed is set based on the location of acassette 111 having a drug contained therein. As a distance betweencassette 111 and hopper 149 is longer, the packaging speed is madeslower because it takes a longer time for the drug to be moved fromcassette 111 to hopper 149. For example, in cassette drug supplying unit101 of FIG. 2, the packaging speed for packaging a drug contained in acassette 111 disposed at an upper side is made slower than the packagingspeed for packaging a drug contained in a cassette 111 disposed at alower side. By setting the packaging speed for each package, thepackaging speed can be improved as a whole.

The data regarding package size is set based on the quantity of a drug.As the quantity of the drug is larger, the package size is made larger.The package size corresponds to the size of the package bag. By settingthe package size for each package, waste of the package paper can bereduced as a whole.

Based on such packaging data, packaging machine 100 packages drugs.Packaging machine 100 sequentially performs the operation for the firstpackage to the final package based on the pieces of data each for onepackage, thereby forming a series of package bags. After forming thepackage bag of the final package, packaging machine 100 sends thepackage bag of the final package to downstream relative to cutting unit152. Then, the package paper is cut by cutting unit 152.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating an operation regarding creationof the manual preparation instruction data in the computer. Whenprescription data regarding a plurality of patients belonging to thesame group is obtained from host computer 10, the operation of creatingmanual preparation instruction data is started. When the operation ofcreating the manual preparation instruction data is started, in a stepS41, data regarding a manually prepared drug to be supplied frommanually prepared drug supplying unit 102 is extracted from the obtainedprescription data. In doing so, with reference to a drug masterdatabase, it is determined whether or not the data regarding the drug inthe prescription data is the data regarding the manually prepared drug.

Next, in a step S42, the extracted data regarding the manually prepareddrug is associated with a compartment number so as to create manualpreparation instruction data designating a compartment 141 a, which isto contain the manually prepared drug, of tray 141. Next, in a step S43,the manual preparation instruction data created in step S42 is sent toprinter 30, and then the operation of creating the manual preparationinstruction data is ended.

FIG. 9 shows contents of the manual preparation instruction. Thecontents of the manual preparation instruction include the name of agroup, the name of patients, dosing times, compartment numbers, thenames of drugs, and the quantities thereof. The compartment numbers areassociated with the names of the drugs and the quantities thereof,thereby indicating the names and quantities of the manually prepareddrugs to be contained in compartments 141 a of tray 141. The compartmentnumbers are further associated with the names of the patients and thedosing times. In accordance with such a manual preparation instruction,an operator can contain, in compartments 141 a of tray 141, the manuallyprepared drugs for the plurality of patients at one time.

FIG. 10 illustrates a result of packaging. An empty package having nodrug contained therein is formed between a series of package bags forone group and a series of package bags for the other group. However, anempty package having no drug contained therein is not formed betweenpackage bags for different patients of the same group, thereby reducingwaste of the package paper.

In the above-described first embodiment, host computer 10 is providedwith the database via which computer 20 obtains the prescription data,but in another embodiment, the database may be provided in computer 20.Further, the database may be provided in a device other than hostcomputer 10 and computer 20. Further, the prescription data may betransferred from host computer 10 to computer 20 without using such adatabase.

Further, in the first embodiment, printer 30 serves as the manualpreparation instruction data output means, but the manual preparationinstruction data output means is not limited to printer 30. A displayunit provided in computer 20 may display a manual preparationinstruction screen. Further, the manual preparation instruction may beprinted using a journal printer provided in packaging machine 100, or amanual preparation instruction screen may be displayed by a display unitprovided in packaging machine 100.

In the first embodiment, the drug preparing machine is implemented bypackaging machine 100, but the drug preparing machine may be any machineas long as it prepares a drug based on the drug preparation data, anddoes not need to necessarily package a drug.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive inany respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by the termsof the claims, rather than the embodiments described above, and isintended to include any modifications within the scope and meaningequivalent to the terms of the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: drug preparing system; 10: host computer; 20: computer; 30: printer;100: packaging machine; 101: cassette drug supplying unit; 102: manuallyprepared drug supplying unit; 111: cassette; 141: tray; 141 a:compartment; 149: hopper; 150: printing unit; 152: cutting unit; 153:transporting unit; 154: sealing unit; 156: package paper roll supportingunit.

1. A drug preparing system comprising: a host computer that creates onepiece of prescription data regarding a plurality of patients belongingto a same group; a computer that obtains the prescription data createdby said host computer and that creates drug preparation data based onthe prescription data; and a drug preparing machine that prepares a drugbased on the drug preparation data created by said computer.
 2. A drugpreparing device comprising: a computer that obtains, from a hostcomputer, one piece of prescription data regarding a plurality ofpatients belonging to a same group and that creates drug preparationdata based on the prescription data; and a drug preparing machine thatprepares a drug based on the drug preparation data created by saidcomputer.